News & Multimedia

33 Reasons Why Tony Stewart Should "Do the Double"

December 04, 2012 | By John Oreovicz

It started as on-stage banter (or maybe boasting) by Roger Penske at the NASCAR championship banquet.

It’s turned into a grassroots movement.

Apparently, where there’s Smoke, there’s fire. Because it’s obvious that people have a burning desire to see Tony Stewart take up Penske’s offer to provide a car to compete in the 2013 Indianapolis 500.

I haven’t signed the petition yet, but I believe the prospect of Stewart coming back home again to Indiana to race in the Indianapolis 500 – especially for Team Penske - is great on a number of levels.

32. He can sleep in his own bed near Columbus every night and still drive to work.

31. The last time Penske sprung an ‘Unfair Advantage’ on the Indianapolis 500 field (1994 with the Mercedes-Ilmor ‘pushrod’ engine), Al Unser Jr. won the race in car #31.

30. Stew’s presence would create a lot of buzz for the Indianapolis 500.

29. It would also create buzz (and lead-in viewers) for NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway later in the day.

28. You know he really wants to do it.

27. It would give the media something to get excited about. Remember the frenzy Stewart created when he showed up on Bump Day a few years ago and led everyone into thinking he was going to jump into a car?

26. How many chances come along in a lifetime to drive for Penske Racing at Indianapolis?

25. He would confirm his standing as the most versatile racecar driver in the world.

24. He could eat breakfast every day at Charlie Brown’s Steak & Pancake House on Main Street.

23. He can prove that fitness is more than meets the eye.

22. He might inspire or encourage other NASCAR drivers to try “doing the double.”

21. He might inspire or encourage some IndyCar Series drivers to try “doing the double.”

20. To remind folks that he raced #20 his rookie year of Indy cars back in 1996.

19. He’ll be 42, and he’s not going to get any younger.

18. To relive the days of his youth shooting pool at Kelly’s Pub.

17. For a little variety from the monotonous 38-weekend NASCAR schedule.

16. To make the storyline of what would be Roger Penske’s record 16th Indianapolis 500 victory a lot more compelling.

15. As somebody who drove in the early days of the IRL, he can tell us just how far Indy cars have advanced in the last fifteen years.

14. Because it would make his hero proud. That’s A.J. Foyt, if you didn’t know.

13. Did I mention how rarely opportunities comes along to drive for Penske at Indianapolis? Or anywhere else, for that matter?

12. Because it will have been twelve years since his last Indy 500 start (6th place driving for Ganassi Racing in 2001).

11. To try to notch up 1,100 miles of racing in a single day, like he did in 2001 when he finished sixth at Indy and third at Charlotte.

10. To give David Letterman material for a Top Ten list. Or a reason to be invited back to The Late Show.

9. So he can experience Indy’s ‘Fast Nine’ Pole Day format for the first time.

8. To re-live the thrill of moonlighting on his boss, something he hasn’t been able to do since he became the owner of Stewart-Haas Racing in NASCAR.

7. Because he loves to drive anything with wheels, anytime, anywhere.

6. A Penske tradition, it’s the number he would probably run at Indy.

5. Driving for Penske would give Stewart an excellent chance to improve on his career best Indy 500 finish of 5th place in 1997.

4. To add to his IMS legend, which includes two victories in the Brickyard 400 in 2005 and ‘07.

3. His home of Bartholomew County used to be ‘3’ in the old Indiana license plate numbering system he grew up with.

2. He could drink 2-percent milk in Victory Lane.

And the Number One reason why Tony Stewart should compete in the 2013 Indianapolis 500…

Now Viewing

33 Reasons Why Tony Stewart Should "Do the Double"

December 04, 2012 | By John Oreovicz
Apparently, where there’s Smoke, there’s fire. Because it’s obvious that people have a burning desire to see Tony Stewart take up Penske’s offer to provide a car to compete in the 2013 Indianapolis 500.

Related Media

Reigning Brickyard Winner Kahne Eager for Fresh Start with Small Leavine Team

February 18, 2018 | By Bruce Martin, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Kasey Kahne knew he was leaving Hendrick Motorsports before he we won the Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard last July at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. As that race lasted into the darkness of the night with overtime after overtime extending the contest, Kahne was physically and emotionally spent by the time he got to Victory Lane.

February 16, 2018 | By Bruce Martin, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Darrell “Bubba” Wallace is making history and headlines as the first African-American driver to run full-time in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series since Wendell Scott in the 1960s and 1970s.

Young Star Blaney Picks Right Spot To Make Winning Debut for Penske in Daytona Duel

February 16, 2018 | By Bruce Martin, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
With his victory in Thursday night’s Can-Am Duel at Daytona, young Ryan Blaney showed why he is “Penske material.” Blaney, the 24-year-old son of sprint car legend Dave Blaney, has all the ingredients that would impress the winningest team owner in Indianapolis 500 history, Roger Penske.

February 15, 2018 | By Paul Kelly, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Michael Goulian was the first pilot on course in the Final 4 of the 2018 Red Bull Air Race World Championship season opener Feb. 4 at Abu Dhabi, with three fellow elite aerobatic pilots waiting in the wings to challenge him.

February 15, 2018 | By Phillip B. Wilson, INDYCAR
The buzz about Danica Patrick's much-anticipated return to the 102nd Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil has shifted into media overdrive with confirmation that she will drive for Ed Carpenter Racing.